Electing to Eat
In my Oct. 29 column, I worked up an appetite for election night. Sure, I’m ready to see the campaigning end and to find out who will be our next president. But I’m also well-stocked with food to keep me fed while I lounge on the couch, waiting for the results to come in.
I included Sen. John McCain’s ribs or Sen. Barack Obama’s chili in my column.
In case those don’t fill you up or suit your tastes, here are some other election-night party ideas. For those who don’t take sides, check out the bipartisan recipes from Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine.
And if you have any other ideas for an election party, pass them along!
Cindy McCain’s Oatmeal-Butterscotch Cookies
From parents.com. This recipe is similar to one at http://www.hersheys.com.
¾ cup(1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter or margarine, softened
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
3 cups rolled oats
1 2/3 cups butterscotch chips
1. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a large bowl beat the butter or margarine, granulated sugar and brown sugar together. Add the eggs and vanilla, beating well.
3. In a medium-size bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture; stir until blended. Stir in oats and butterscotch chips. Drop by tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
4. Bake 10 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Michelle Obama’s Shortbread Cookies
Recipe from parents.com.
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar
2 egg yolks
2 tablespoons Amaretto (almond liqueur)
1 teaspoon each orange and lemon zest
3 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
¼ teaspoon salt
1 beaten egg white
Chopped nuts or dried fruit (optional)
1. Heat oven to 325 degrees. Line a 17-by2-by1-inch baking pan with nonstick foil. In large bowl, cream together butter and 1-1/2 cups of the sugar.
2. Slowly add egg yolks, and beat well until smooth. Beat in Amaretto and zest.
3. Stir in flour and salt until combined.
4. Spread dough evenly into prepared pan, flattening as smoothly as possible.
5. Brush top of dough with egg white; sprinkle with nuts or fruit (if using) and with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar.
6. Bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes or until brown, turn off oven and allow cookies to sit in oven (with door ajar) for 15 minutes. Cut while slightly warm.
Sen. Biden’s Favorite Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Recipe adapted from http://www.yankeemagazine.com, attributed to Mary Ann Kelley.
1 cup shortening or butter
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
3 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup raisins
Nuts (about 1 cup chopped), optional
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Sift flour, soda, cinnamon and salt together. Beat together the shortenings and sugars until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Add flour mixture, oats and raisins (and nuts if using) and mix well.
2. Drop (by tablespoonfuls or other desired size) onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until golden brown around the edges.
Sarah Palin’s Barracuda Cocktail
Recipe from recipezaar.com.
1½ ounces Southern Comfort (or 1 part)
1½ ounces vodka (or 1 part)
1½ ounces triple sec (or 1 part)
Pour all three parts into a cocktail glass (or another type of glass) over ice. Mix and serve.
Campaign Trail Mix
Recipe from the November issue of Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine.
8 cups air-popped popcorn
1 cup roasted peanuts
1 cup pumpkin seeds, toasted
7 tablespoons butter
¼ cup dark brown sugar
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt and black pepper
1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil. In a large bowl, toss together the popcorn, peanuts and pumpkin seeds.
2. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Whisk in the brown sugar and cayenne until bubbling and thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour over the popcorn mixture; toss to coat. Season with salt and black pepper.
3. Transfer to the foil-lined baking sheet. Form small clumps of the popcorn mixture and bake until toasted, 40 minutes. Let cool completely.
Makes 9 cups.
Bipartisan Salad
Recipe from the November issue of Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine.
1 large butternut squash, peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes (about 4 cups)
¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and black pepper
16 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Cayenne pepper
2 6-ounce packages baby spinach (16 cups)
1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. On a baking sheet, toss the squash with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and black pepper. Spread out in a single layer and roast until tender and just starting to brown, about 10 minutes; let cool.
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, fry the bacon, stirring, until crisp, about 15 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain; let cool.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining ¼ cup olive oil, the maple syrup, lemon juice and a pinch of cayenne. Drizzle the dressing over the spinach; toss to coat.
4. In a serving bowl, top the spinach with the bacon on one side of the bowl and the squash on the other side.
Makes 8 servings.
Uncle Sammies
Recipe from the November issue of Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine.
3 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
1 large clove garlic, finely chopped
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1 1/4 -pound pork tenderloin, at room temperature
1 12-ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained (1 1/2 cups)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
½ teaspoon paprika
16 dinner rolls (about 2 1/2 inches in diameter), split and the insides removed
1 5-ounce bag blue potato chips, such as Terra Blues
1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. In a small bowl, combine the butter, garlic, salt, black pepper and cayenne.
2. Use a sharp knife to cut a few slits in the pork. Rub the garlic butter over the pork, making sure butter gets into the slits. Place on a roasting rack set in a roasting pan or on a foil-lined baking sheet; roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers 150 degrees, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest.
3. Meanwhile, using a blender, puree the roasted peppers, olive oil and paprika; season with salt.
Thinly slice the pork. Layer the bottom half of each roll with the potato chips, pork slices and about 1 tablespoon of the red pepper puree. Top with the remaining roll halves.
Makes 16 sammies, or 8 main-dish servings.
(Photo credits: Cindy’s McCain’s Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies and Michelle Obama’s Shortbread Cookies from Parents.com; Campaign Trail Mix, Bipartisan Salad and Uncle Sammies from Everyday With Rachael Ray magazine.)
